Feb 20, Colombo: Leader of Sri Lanka's Democratic Party, former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka has complained to the Elections Commissioner that his party has been prevented from campaigning for the forthcoming provincial council elections.

Fonseka has complained that his Democratic Party has not been allowed to obtain venues for meetings and that the candidates are being obstructed by security forces personnel.

He explained that despite requests to obtain venues for meetings, some head of local government bodies, provincial councils and private venues have cancelled the bookings at the last minute.

Fonseka said the Elections Commissioner should take the responsibility to ensure equal right for all political parties to engage in election campaigning.

He added that announcing an election and printing ballot papers alone were not sufficient to ensure a fair election.